Jarrett Jack, Golden State Warriors step up against New Orleans Hornets

NEW ORLEANS -- With 4.6 seconds left, Warriors guard Jarrett Jack checked out of the game, having made multiple clutch plays to help his team secure a 116-112 win Saturday night. He was mobbed by his teammates.

As he's done all season, Jack came up big in a game Golden State needed to have. He lit up the New Orleans Hornets -- who traded him to the Warriors in July for basically nothing -- for 25 points and a career-high-tying 12 assists off the bench.

It's the first time in his NBA career that he's had at least 20 points and 10 assists in consecutive games. He had 20 points and 10 assists in Friday's loss at San Antonio.

Golden State Warriors' David Lee and Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry watch the final few minutes of the game as the Miami Heat keep a consistent lead Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Staff)

"He was special," Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. "He was awfully good. He had a couple tough outings prior to this, but he's a pro, and we believe in him."

Even though starting point guard Stephen Curry returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sprained right ankle, Jack's production was especially vital. That's because Warriors forward David Lee sat out with a sprained left ankle he sustained at San Antonio.

The Warriors simply couldn't afford to drop their fourth straight game. Not with the Los Angeles Clippers (Monday) and Oklahoma City (Wednesday) looming.

The Hornets represented the Warriors' first opponent with a losing record all month. But these Hornets aren't the sorry team their record might indicate. They entered Saturday having won six of their last seven games.

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"They're healthy," Carl Landry said after totaling 11 points and 11 rebounds starting in place of Lee. "They're playing well. They're clicking. They're rolling. They're a very good basketball team right now."

Golden State entered the fourth quarter down 89-85. It was obvious they needed to put points on the board. That they did, albeit in an unusual fashion.

The Warriors got 13 points in the fourth quarter from Curry and 11 from Jack. But they did most of their damage from the foul line, knocking down 15 combined.

Golden State totaled 31 points in the quarter, 17 coming from the foul line -- offsetting 6-of-17 shooting.

"We gave up 117 points to a team that is undermanned," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "You don't deserve to win."

Inside a minute left, the Warriors trailed 110-108. Jack intercepted a pass from the Hornets' Eric Gordon and turned it into a fastbreak, which led to his game-tying free throws.

The Warriors then got a stop after Gordon bricked a 20-footer and had the ball with 34.7 seconds. Out of timeouts and going for the quick shot, Jack drilled a runner in the lane, putting the Warriors up 112-110 with 31.8 left.

Golden State got the ball back after a Hornets turnover. Jack split a pair of free throws, giving New Orleans life. With 22 seconds left, a 3-pointer would have tied it. Greivis Vasquez got a good look, but it rimmed out.

It was Jack who secured the rebound and the much-needed victory.

"He is just such a gritty, gritty player," said Warriors swingman Richard Jefferson, who had 11 points and four rebounds off the bench. "He is not the most athletic player. He is not the quickest player. He just has so much grit and so much heart. He is yelling at the bigs. He is yelling at the smalls. He is such an intelligent player. He just wants to win."

Curry put his ankle through the rigors of his pregame warmups. After getting through the test, Curry had a talk with Jackson and general manager Bob Myers.

Jackson said the Warriors would be cautious. Myers acknowledged being a bit nervous. In the end, Curry convinced them he was fine.

"He's a smart guy," Myers had said before Wednesday's game against Miami. "We can trust him."

Curry played 38 minutes, 29 seconds and didn't seem to have any problems with his right ankle. He said he has a little soreness, but it's not in his ligaments so he can play through it.

Saturday, he played a lot off the ball, which requires plenty of running and cutting in traffic.

"I still have a little ways to get better fully," Curry said. "But I can't do myself any damage I don't think. It's a different feeling than I've had before after I sprained it. So it's not like I'm going to go out there and make it be a nagging thing. I can still heal while I'm playing. Doctors all agree on that, and the training staff."

Lee sprained his left ankle in the third quarter at San Antonio. He was driving to the basket when he stepped defender Danny Green's foot. Lee said playing on it likely would've made it worse. He did say he expected to be fine by Monday. But judging by the size of his ankle, it's not a guarantee.